Detachable pilot for pump plungers



Sept. l1, 1928.

G; R. LIVERGooD DETAGHABLE PILOT FOR PUMP PLUNGERS Original Filed June 25, 1926 ggf sept 11,1928. 1,683,683

G. R. LIVERGOOD DETACHABLE PILOT FOR PUMP PLUNGERS Original Filed June 25. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nfl . mutilating the packing. f y i ect of the invention to provide Patented Slept. l1, 1928. Y

1,683,6aaK

uNirr.DSTATESA PATENT 'orti-ce.

GERALD n. LIvnaeooD,4 or HOUSTON, TEXAS, AssiGNoR kor. onnfrounrnaow. 1..

manson, or HAnR1s-coUNTY,TExAs. e.

Applicatinnledvlune 25,1926, Serial No. 118,511. Renewed .Tune 2 6,V 1928.,

My invention relates to a pilot for Vuse on` packing is expanded against the plungerA during the operation of the pump, and when it becomes necessary to withdraw the plunger from the well, as sometimes occurs, the packing about the plunger will expand inwardly after the plunger is removed, partially filling the space occupied by thev plunger. IVhen it is desired thereafter to insert the plunger back into the pumpv barrel, the

packing. has so filled the interior of the bar-V rel that the plungervmay not be again forced into position, at least ,not without materially It is an obj a pilot or holding member r'which may be Y employed as a part of the pump plunger while the pumping is being done, butwhich will remain in the well and hold the packing in position` when the pump` plunger is withdrawn, thus making it possibleto again insert `the plunger whenever-desired.

It is a further object 'to provide a pilot n'ieinber of the character described which is resilientin` its `action-and wherein danger oit injury tothe pump and the pump plunger is reduced toa minimum. It isdesired that the pilot' member `be adaptedfor use in connection with anytype of packing within the pump barrel, and` that it be simple and posi-` tive in its action and not liable to get out of order.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention isyvidisclosed. -In Fig. 1 I

have shown the L"pilot member in position within the pumpL barrel andl shown Vas holding the packinginiiposition andready to receive the pump plunger, the parts being y shown in` central vertical section. Fig.2.is

a side elevation, partlyinlcentral section and parte beingV broken` awa-yy, illustratingthe urination of the pump, plunger toco-operate with the pilot member. Figs. 3 and 4 show the upper and lowerends, respectively, of

thepuinp barrel andl show the pilnpplunger in position ior the pumping operationwithin the pump barrel, the partsibeing` shown in,

centralvvertical section.

In illustrating the operationiomy detach,- able pilot, I have shownV a type of packed pump such as is disclosed inv my prior a 1- plication for Patent, No. 90,085, tiled; Fe f ruary 23rd, 1926, The pump tubingindicated' at 1, is connected to a pump bar-rel` having packing members thereon arrangedi in stages or sections. This packingidevice is connected by coupling 24 to the tubing.

Said coupling 2 has its lowerA endthreaded externally to receive the upper end 3; ofthe section 4. Said section 4 isatubular-nipple having a washervor ring 5 threadedthil'eg'in-` adjacent the section 2 andhaving an opening` to tit somewhatA closely about the pump' plunger 6 which reciprocates therein. The. lower-internal diameter of the section` 4; is;

tapered downwardly at 7 tofornr, a` seat; for. a bushing or `sleeve 8 which is` cylindrical` o n its inner tace and adapted to make a tight contact with the pump barrel-6and tapered;` on outer face to fit the seat 7. When inV position in said` seat it `furnishes a` packingV member litting in approximately iluidetight v relation about the pump plunger.`

"The upper end of the bushing 8 is provided with a downwardly tapered seat 94 which has a much more abrupt taper than that of they seat 7. In the seat9 is a tapered slip 10 which is understood as being sectioned verf ticallyfand as having a guide ring- 11 at the upper end, said ring having a series-of radialdownwardlyV projecting .lugs thereon fittingwithin vopenings in the sections of the` slip. This allows the sections or' the slip toexpan'd inwardly or outwardly relative to the ring but prevents their movement f'circumferem tially on the ring. .The ring 1,1l is held resiliently against the slip- 10 byineansf of a i spring 12 bearing at `its upper `end against the washer 5 and its lower end against said-zring. It is contemplated that. under Ordin nary circumstances the slips 10 will beheld continually in close 4engagement with" ythe pump plungerand serve to prevent any lea-kage whatever of fluid past them. It will.

not be until the-packing 10 has-been nearly worn out that the bushing 8V will tend to,

wear, said bushing acting to steady the, a'@

Cil

tion of the pump plunger and holding it in exact alignment.

As many sections 4 or el may be employed in packing the pump barrel as is found necessary or desirable. I have shown two such sections, the lower section being secured to a coupling 13l which connects the same with the upper end of the pump barrel or tubing 14, which extends downwardly for connection with the usual standing valve and perforated pipe thereon.

To hold the packing expanded when the pump plunger is withdrawn, I have provided a detachable pilot 15, shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Said pilot member comprises a barrel or sleeve, the walls of wlnch may be made comparatively-thin. Its upper'end 1s open and ,A adapted to lit over the outer surface of an extension of the pump barrel.

a tubular nut or stop member 16. i

A resilient plunger locking sleeve 17 1s fittedwithin the nut '16 and slidable closely therein. The outerendof the nut 1G has opposite notches 1S' therein to engagewith a Spanner wrench whereby the nut may be adjustedl in its seat. The locking member l 17 is a tubular member threaded at itslower end for engagementwith a nut 19 of-shghtly larger diameter than the guide member 15. Then screwed 1n positron on the lower end of the locking member, it 1s anchored 1n position by a set screw 20. The upper end of the locking member above the nut 1G is locking member relative to the pilot member against thetension of the said spring 23.

The lower end of the pump plunger is provided with au extension to engageand co-operate with thepilot member. Saidy eX- tensionpis aiy tubular barrel threaded at its upper end 'foi-'engagement at 24 within the lower end ofthe plungervbodyQ.y It ex-` tends downwardly from the plunger and is reduced in diameter toward :the lower end,

" and the said lower end is provided with upwardly extending slots 26; as many ofsaid slots being provided as is necessary to allow the eolnpression ofy the lower end of the barrel. At the extreme lower end the dii ameterof` the barrel is again, slightly en- 60 largedto provide a tapered shoulder 27',-the lower end ofthe barrel being also 'rounded and tapered at 28. f

The" pilot member 15 is provided, adjacent i the upper endof thelocking sleeve 21, lwith an annular recess y29-of sufficient length to Its lower end' is threaded on its interior to engage with' receive and engage with the enlarged lower end 3() of the pump plunger extension, in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of my device, the pump barrel together with the packing members l therein are assembled with the pilot mem ber y15 in positionV therein, and it will be noted froln the construction of this partielllar type of packing that the pilot member may be inserted from the lower end of the packed pum i barrel without difficulty, and it is contemp ated that it will be inserted upwardly through the packing until the nut 15) at the lower end of the locking member comes in contact with the lower portion of the packing or of the pumpnbarrel. parts will then be approximately in the position shown in Fig.

AThe pump barrel may be then inserted into the well and thereafter the4 pump plunger at the lower end' of the usual sucker rod may be forced downwardly into the barrel and the lower end 30 of the pump barrel extension will be received within the upper end of the pilot inembel'and may be slightly compressed and forced downwardly therein until the lower end of the pump plunger extension contacts with the upper end of the locking sleeve 21.

against the tensionfof the spring 23 until the enlarged lower end 30 of the pump barrel extension 1s forced into the recess 29 in the pilot member.` This will latch the pump plunger and the pilot member together, so that thereafter the reciprocation of the pump plunger will also reciprocate the pilot member during the operation of thepump.

lVhen it is desired to remove the pump plunger, the said plunger is drawn upwardly until the nut 19 at the lower end of the pilot memberengages with the lower end of the packing device, as shown in Fig. 1. An upwardy pull Vof the pump plungerthcreafter will-draw the pilot member slightly upward relative `to the locking sleeve, and allow the pump plunger extension to be compressed bythe 'upperI shoulder of the recess 29 and allow the pump'plunger. tonmove away from. the `pilot sleeve,^leaving thek sleeve in the )osition shown in Fig. 1 and allowing the p unger to he withdrawn with out further difficulty. It will be noted that the pilot member is in a position holding the packing lexpanded sothat there will beno difficulty in introducing thepump plunger again in the manner set'forth. This pilot, constructed to be automatically disengaged to hold the packing in'position, fis an important feature in all packed pumps, and it is'to be understood that it is adapted to be used onl a pump plunger in'any type' of packed pump, that is, a pump having packing on the inner face of the pump barrel itself. It is capable of use upon pumps or The Said sleeve w1ll be forced downwardly to some extentv Uli lim

, bei', said pilot holding means being adaptedv rods which have to be inserted Within a packed sleeve, and I do not Wish to be limber, means holding said pilotinember in re` silient engagement with said movable niemto be automatically` disengaged, to retain said packing in position when said movable member is withdrawn therefrom.

2. In a device of the character described, a barrel, a cylindrical member movable therein, expansible packing means in lsaid barrel bearing against said member, aftubu-V lar pilot member on one end of 4saidniovable member, means including a locking sleeve in the lowerend of said pilotmember, for holding said pilot member in re silient engagementwith said movable meinbei'.v said pilot holding means being adapted to be automatically disengaged, to retain said packing in position when said movable member is withdrawn therefrom.: Y

3. In a reciprocating pump, appump barrel, a plunger therein, a packing means in said pump barrel fitting` about said plunger, a pilot member on said plunger, means holding said pilot member on said pluiiger,'and means co-operat-ing with the packing in said pump' barrel to release` said pilot member from said lunger, to retain said packing in position w ien said plunger is withdrawn.

4. In a reciprocating.pump, a pump bar7 rel, a plunger therein, a packing means in said pump barrel fittingabout said plunger, a pilot member onsaid plunger, a locking sleeve acting to automatically lock said pilot member releasably to said plunger, and

means co-operating with the packingin said pump barrel to release said pilot `member from said plunger, to retain said lpacking' in position when said plunger is withdrawn.

5. In a reciprocating pump, a pump b arrel, a pump plunger therein, expansible packing means in said barrel tting about said plunger, an extension at the llower end oi said plunger, a pilot sleeve on said extension, the lower end of said plunger being slightly enlarged to lit within a recess in said extension, means to hold said enlarged end of the plunger within said recess, said means being automatically releasable when said plunger is rdrawn upwardly out ofsaid packing. f f

G, In a reciprocating pump, a-pump barrel, a pump plunger therein, eXpansible iacking means in said barrel fitting about said plunger, an extension at the' lower end oiE said plunger, a pilot sleeve on said exf tension, the lower end of said `plungei'beiiig slightly enlarged and slotted vertically Vto Vtit within recessin said extension, means including-a tapered sleeve fitting in the..

lower end of said plunger to lioldsaid enlai-ged end of the plungerwithin said re cess, said means beiiigautomatically releasable when said plunger is drawn upwardly out of said packing.

7. In a reciprocating pump, a pump bari'el, apuinpplunger therein, packing means between said pump Vbarrel and said pump plunger,A and a pilot sleeve detachably engaging the lower end of said plunger, and adapted to be automatically released from said pump plunger, when said plunger is drawn upwardly out of said packing.

8. In a reciprocating pump, a pump bar' rel, a pump plunger therein, packing means between said pump barrel and said pump plunger, yand a pilot sleeve detachably engaging the lower end of said plunger including a locking sleeve fitting within the lower end of said guide sleeve and said plungerk and radapted f to be automatically released with said pilot sleeve from said pump plunger, when said plungeris drawn upwardly out of said packing.

9. In a reciprocating pump including a pump bari-cha pump plunger, and a packL ing means on said pump bairel fitting about said pump plunger; the combination of a pilot sleeve detachably engaging the said pump plunger and adapted to contact Wit-h leo said pump barrel to be released automati cally when said plunger is withdrawinto retain said packing in. position, iii the Inaniier described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix-mv Y signature this 21st day of June, A. D. 1926.

GERALD ii. Livniieoifii).v 

